From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers
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From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers Compiled by the Women’s Local Government Society with support from the Local Government Association (LGA) From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers Foreword Foreword This project came about because of a This publication summarises the lives we Background conversation I had with Chris Williams, the discovered and some of the celebrations to former Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire mark their local impact. We hope these will County Council, about Colin Cartwright’s book have inspired a new generation of campaigners, ‘Burning to Get the Vote’. This explores the councillors and volunteers to become active in Pioneers and celebrations activities of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in their communities. central Buckinghamshire. Several years previous I would like personally to thank all those who have to that conversation, I became chairperson given their time voluntarily to reach this stage. of the Women’s Local Government Society, a Anne Baldwin, WLGS Secretary and compiler Glossary cross-party organisation celebrating the work of this book, our steering committee, especially of women as local councillors. We set out to those from the Local Government Association explore the link between the two. (LGA); Colin Cartwright and Jane Robinson, who List of pioneers I was aware of the suffrage activities of Dame assisted in compiling the list of pioneers; and Frances Dove, who founded Wycombe Abbey especially those who took the time to make Girls’ School and who almost became Mayor of nominations, sharing their enthusiasm for their High Wycombe Borough Council in 1908. She was own special pioneer. Index one of many suffrage activists who were also The Women’s Local Government Society set out active in their local communities. The Women’s to highlight the contributions women make to local Local Government Society decided to explore citizenship. We hope this work will serve to inspire the extent and variety of their activities. Our aim the next generation to carry on that cause. was to identify and celebrate the lives of 100 previously hidden women and supportive men Lesley Clarke OBE who were both active in the campaign for votes, Chairperson leading to the Representation of the People Women’s Local Government Society (WLGS) Act 1918, and who used the extended rights to citizenship in a positive way locally. 2 From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers Foreword Dedicated to the late Patricia Hollis, the first female leader of Norwich City Council (1983-1988), Background former Government Minister and persistent campaigner for women in the House of Lords. Her academic career included the publication of ‘Ladies Elect’ charting the work of the Women’s Local Government Society, which remains an inspiration to those seeking equal representation now. As an Pioneers and celebrations active Patron of the revived Women’s Local Government Society her contributions were valuable. Glossary Patricia Lesley Hollis, Lady Hollis of Heigham Historian and politician List of pioneers born 24 May 1941, died 13 October 2018 Index 3 From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers Background Foreword In 1918, Parliament passed a law which allowed supporters worked in towns and cities throughout Background some women – women aged over 30 who the country, as illustrated by the ‘Great Pilgrimage’ fulfilled basic property qualifications – and all of 1913, which started in locations as far apart men to vote in Parliamentary elections for the as Carlisle, Newcastle, Cromer, Brighton and first time. The Centenary of that legislation Plymouth, converging on London and visiting Pioneers and celebrations has been marked in a variety of ways in towns many places on the way. Those two organisations and cities throughout the United Kingdom. worked alongside many others, with some Those celebrations have rightly focused on the individuals choosing to join more than one. activities of those who campaigned fearlessly Celebrations up and down the country have Glossary and endlessly to win that right – Suffragettes, highlighted the diversity of the thousands involved with their familiar purple, white and green in achieving that partial vote in 1918. They also sashes. Formed by Emmeline Pankhurst as the showed how much more those pioneers achieved Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in List of pioneers in their colourful lives. Women wanted the vote 1903, by 1908 they were able to inspire 60,000 so they could participate as full citizens. Some of people to campaign outside Parliament. When them were already immersed in local civic life, and they later resorted to more militant tactics, it 1918 was to open opportunities for many more. Index is estimated that 1,000 were imprisoned. The Women’s Local Government Society Suffragists have also been celebrated during the successfully campaigned for some women to be Centenary. Their leader, Millicent Fawcett, has elected as county councillors in 1908, by which been commemorated with a statue in Parliament time women were already serving as Poor Law Square that includes portraits of 55 other men Guardians and as parish and district councillors. and women who supported women’s suffrage. Those opportunities expanded after 1918, with Supporters of Millicent Fawcett’s National Union more women entitled to take part in local elections of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) filled as candidates, and subsequently to become London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1908, with 13,000 Magistrates. With limited time available to find members marching from the Embankment. Their 4 From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers Background Foreword candidates, just 17 women stood as Parliamentary It is a campaign that must continue. A century on, Background candidates in 1918, but local elections were more women still do not have equal representation in accessible to women. In the November 1919 local either Parliament or Local Government. As the elections, 243 women stood as candidates in Fawcett Commission recently found, around 17% London alone, with 128 elected. Every London of council leaders are women, a figure that has Pioneers and celebrations borough elected at least one woman, a strength hardly changed in a decade. also reflected in elections to the London County The marches, theatre and exhibitions of this Council. Equal representation in Local Government Centenary have given us a vivid display of courage is still a goal to be achieved. Glossary and determination. Let’s hope it can also inspire Full franchise eventually came in 1928 and admission the next generation, not only to continue the to the House of Lords in 1958. There were numerous demands for equality, but also to participate as full campaigns to be fought: the rights of women to citizens themselves: women who can shape the List of pioneers carry on employment after marriage, equal pay world by working in their own neighbourhood and and access to birth control, to name a few. the wider world. The stories in this e-book explore the contribution Index that 100 individuals made, both in bringing about the partial female franchise in the 1918 Representation of the People Act and in using those extended rights of citizenship in a positive way. Those illustrated include artists, singers and actresses alongside trade union activists, teachers and shop workers. They came from all walks of life, from humble homes and the aristocracy. Their stories are but a small selection from those thousands of active campaigners. 5 From SUFFRAGE to CITIZENSHIP Celebrating 100 Pioneers Pioneers and celebrations Foreword A selection from our 100 ‘pioneers’ with information about how they have been celebrated in 2018. Background Examples include processions, plays, talks, exhibitions and guided heritage walks. There will be reminders to inspire the next generation with statues, plaques and trees planted. Pioneers and celebrations Mary Maclagen 1874-1955 First female councillor in Rotherham. Glossary Phyllis Mary Lovell born 1885; died 1972 Service Corps; under of the Home Phyllis Lovell, fo at the FANY ambulance driver Merseyside policewoman; Western Front; her life was principles put into practice. background herself, in the slums of From a privileged , she was Mary Maclagen was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1874. After moving to Rotherham the battlefields of France List of pioneers Liverpool and on she became heavily involved in local suffrage movements, being one of the founders of the determined to show by example that women were the equals of men; in her own words, “Her Service Conquers”. Rotherham branch of the Women Citizens’ Association in 1918 and was secretary of the served with the British, French and Belgian The FANYs In 1918 Rotherham Branch of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. In 1924 she ran in ntry medals from all three. Armies, receiving galla the Clifton ward beating the Conservative candidate by 34 votes. As a candidate Mary spoke they were exempted from Suffrage Act property in favour of the extension of maternity and child welfare and increased educational requirements and those over 30 got the vote. provision for school children. One cause she ardently championed was the organisation of women police believing that female police officers would diminish the increasing number of Index offences against children. After her political career Mary was interested in the Rotherham Worker’s Education Association and served as a committee member for a number of years, and up to the time of her death was a member of the Rotherham Business and Professional Women’s Club. To commemorate the life of our pioneer we are to unveil a plaque in Rotherham Town Hall in her honour. In addition we will erect a blue plaque on the site of her home on Broom Lane, Rotherham. As part of our wider celebration of the 100 years of women’s suffrage a suffragette banner was recently unveiled by the Mayor and Mayoress in the Town Hall.